The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 158

“So, you agree to arrest His Highness Mikhail.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Didn’t the Mage Tower also secure the same evidence?”

“Yes, it’s an undeniable fact that the Three Evils secretly followed an entity known as ‘Hope.'”

Everyone cast puzzled glances at me.

‘This is where it gets important.’

The tricky part about this conspiracy is that it’s true the Three Evils followed Mikhail under the guise of ‘Hope.’

My father, Duke Huam, knew this fact in advance and used it as a tool to strike at Mikhail.

However, there was one flaw.

“The question is, who is this ‘Hope’ that the Three Evils followed?”

“!!”

“As far as our Mage Tower is aware, none of the evidence specifically identifies who ‘Hope’ actually is.”

The knight looked troubled.

“While it’s not explicitly stated, there is evidence clearly implying that ‘Hope’ refers to His Highness Mikhail.”

“Are you referring to the ‘prophecy’ circulating among the Three Evils?”

“You’re aware of it, then. Yes.”

It’s a fake prophecy.

Designed to cause chaos in the empire through Mikhail.

I know all about it since it was a key part of the storyline.

“The one born with the destiny to defy heaven, to become the hope of darkness and be worshipped. Upon the great beast and the blood calamity, a new sky shall open.”

It clearly referred to Mikhail.

The destiny to defy heaven. The blood calamity.

All paths that Mikhail must walk.

However,

“The destiny to defy heaven does not speak of His Highness Mikhail.”

“Then who does it refer to?”

“Me, Van the Legend.”

“!!”

People showed faces of disbelief.

“How can you spout such absurdities?”

“I ask you, what exactly does the destiny to defy heaven mean?”

“Well…”

The knight seemed too appalled to speak.

It typically means ‘rebellion.’

However,

“The true meaning of defying heaven is not something so dreadful. It refers to ascending beyond ascension, reaching a realm higher than the heavens themselves, forcing even the skies to submit.”

“!!”

Indeed.

This is indeed the true meaning of defying heaven.

“Actually, in most prophecies, the ‘Defier of Heaven’ usually refers to someone who ascends beyond the realm of the heavens. A recent example would be the Demon King, who was the protagonist of a prophecy descending from the Demon Realm.”

The hall fell silent.

It was well-known that the Demon King was born as the protagonist of a prophecy of defying heaven and had indeed become a Level 10 celestial position.

“T-The Demon King is just an unusual case.”

“Why is that? I, Van the Legend, am also to become a Level 10 Heavenly Position.”

“!!”

Everyone had incredulous expressions.

But I spoke with a confident voice, unleashing the charisma of the Dark Flame Dragon at full power.

“Do you not believe me? On the contrary, I would be surprised if I do not become Level 10. My greatness is such that subjugating the heavens and defying heaven is no big deal. Everyone here will come to worship me.”

No one could respond.

It sounded absurd, but the bluster of the Dark Flame Dragon had the power to overwhelm even the sound of barking dogs.

“S-Setting aside the defying heaven part, what about ‘becoming the hope of darkness and being worshipped’? Surely not?”

The knight stuttered and then fell silent.

He had recalled how I had recently received accolades from dark mages at a dark symposium.

Honestly, it was far-fetched, but using such logic to definitively brand Mikhail as a criminal based on one prophecy was also unreasonable.

“What in the world…”

The knight looked unsure of what to do.

I offered help, extending my hand to him.

“What’s it to be? Not arresting me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shouldn’t you imprison me, the hope of the Three Evils?”

The knight stepped back instead.

His mission was to arrest Mikhail, not to arrest a member of the great Ecclesia family.

Then, a new voice was heard.

“Arrest Van.”

“Inspector!”

It was Ron’s arrival.

Ron gave me a look as if I were a headache and then proceeded as we had agreed beforehand.

“Given the circumstances, we cannot dismiss the possibility that Van might be the hope of the Three Evils, so we must investigate properly. Take him into custody.”

“Understood. My apologies, Professor Van.”

Click.

Done!

Everything went according to plan.

‘Now I just need to roll around in jail and prepare for the climax.’

But then, while following the knight with a lalala, I flinched.

There was one thing I hadn’t considered.

I locked eyes with Mikhail.

“……”

Mikhail was looking at me with a look of utter despair.

As if his heart had shattered.

 

* * *

 

The empire was in uproar.

   

This widespread media attention was largely due to Duke Volman.

He saw this as an opportunity to get rid of me, a thorn in his side, and mobilized the press under the Rapalt Ducal House in large numbers.

‘I was already considering ways to spread the rumor as much as possible, so this is welcome.’

No matter how great a performance, it shines only when there are spectators.

The bigger the stage, the more splendid the climax I plan will be.

‘Everything is going smoothly.’

However, not everything was smooth.

There was something bothering me.

‘I wonder if His Highness Mikhail is alright?’

I remembered the last look on Mikhail’s face.

Pale as white, about to crumble.

‘My arrest must have triggered His Highness Mikhail’s trauma.’

I sighed.

It was something I hadn’t considered enough.

It wasn’t that Mikhail had always been alone from the start.

But those who were by his side were all removed.

Miserably and terribly.

My arrest seemed to have stirred up past wounds.

‘I hope he’s alright. I hope he overcomes it well.’

I stopped worrying about Mikhail.

In truth, my hands were full.

I faced a terrible obstacle I hadn’t anticipated.

TchTckTsk

I tensed up at the sound echoing from the corner of the jail.

With a trembling heart, I sneak a glance, only to find a presence as terrifying as the abyssal darkness itself crawling around.

More horrifying than any beast.

The ruler of the prison.

An entity too fearsome to even utter its name.

The cockr… no, the cutie.

‘How many of them are there? They must have deliberately placed me in this room!’

I am of the highest noble lineage, after all.

So, instead of a regular prison, I ended up in a clean room.

I thought of this as a long-awaited rest and was about to enjoy a deep sleep, but then I saw it.

Behind the furniture, a cockroa… no, a cutie, scurrying by.

And it wasn’t just one or two.

‘Ugh. How can a cockr… cutie be that big! They even fly around! No, Mr. Cockr, I mean, I won’t move an inch from here, so please, stay away from me.’

I urgently asked the guard.

“May I borrow some insect-killing magic tools?”

“I’m sorry. There was an order not to allow insect-killing magic tools.”

“…There was such an order? Who made it?”

“It was His Excellency, Duke Huam.”

“Placing me in this room, was it also my father’s intention?”

“Yes, it was.”

I grimaced.

I expected him not to stay idle, but to take revenge in this manner!

Truly, he was a fearsome spirit.

That’s when it happened.

“How are you holding up?”

The cause of my descent into this hell, my father, appeared.

“I am not doing well.”

The Duke Huam shrugged his shoulders as he saw a cutie scurrying past the bars.

“This room is where I spent some time in my youth. The cuties are still the same. I wanted to share memories with you by placing you in the same room. Is this what they call tough love?”

“…Such deep love indeed. So, you’ve been imprisoned before?”

“Yes, I defied my father’s orders and ended up here. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the bloodline of the Ecclesia family to end up in prison. Those destined for great deeds must become familiar with the cuties of the prison.”

My father was telling a terrifying story.

While saying this, he himself was flinching every time he saw the cuties scurrying around the bars.

“Weren’t you angry?”

“Not really? I can understand how you feel. After all, it wasn’t easy for me to strike at Mikhail, that child. He’s a good kid, isn’t he?”

Let it be said again, the Duke Huam is not evil.

He only seeks to remove Mikhail because he believes it necessary.

‘Considering the conspiracy that the Three Evils were plotting, it’s not a wrong thought.’

Moreover, it’s not only the Three Evils who intend to use Mikhail.

“I apologize for not following your will, Father.”

“It’s okay. It’s a long-standing tradition in the Ecclesia family for the children to defy their father’s will.”

“And sometimes they end up shedding each other’s blood?”

“!!”

The Duke Huam’s face stiffened slightly.

“Such things have happened often. However, this time it seems unnecessary. Instead, you’ve helped me.”

“Helped you?”

“Yes, didn’t you lay the groundwork magnificently? It’s become even easier to strike at His Highness Mikhail.”

I realized that the press making a big deal out of this incident wasn’t just the work of the Rapalt Ducal House.

Duke Huam had also played a hand in the media.

“Soon, on the feast day of Saint Patricia, the results of the investigation naming Mikhail as the ‘Hope’ of the Three Evils will be announced.”

That day would effectively be Mikhail’s death sentence.

“So, it’ll be difficult to release you until the feast day.”

“Can’t you at least lend me some insect-killing magic tools?”

“I refuse. You’ll find the cuties endearing after a while.”

“……”

“Take care.”

But before leaving, the Duke, Huam asked an unexpected question.

“Do you think I’m heartless?”

I pondered for a moment.

‘Heartless is correct.’

I recalled a scene from the scenario where Duke Huam personally executed Ron.

There were countless instances of Duke Huam’s ruthless behavior.

Yet.

“No, not particularly.”

“You rascal. Sweet-talking just because I’m your father.”

Believing it to be mere flattery, the Duke Huam smirked and then disappeared.

But it was sincere.

Because I know the choice the Duke Huam makes ‘in the end’.

One of the futures I must prevent.

‘Anyway, it’s ironic.’

Coincidentally, I had also marked Saint Patricia’s feast day as D-Day.

That day, everything will be decided.

‘I need to prepare.’

Thinking I can’t do anything while imprisoned would be a mistake.

Being in prison, there were things I could do.

“Mari, come out.”

Papah!!

It was Mari’s first appearance in a while.

She had sneaked in with me.

I’ve been soooo bored!

“Right, well done. From now on, let’s study together.”

The preparation I was intending to make.

Was to study magic.

To create a ‘miracle’ that would turn everything on its head.

Sssss.

The cuties, as if cheering me on, scurried by. 

Then, time passed.